218 MANUAL OF BOTANY 



a calyx and correspond to the outer whorl of the perianth in 

 Liliacese. This is supported by the fact that the upper pale is 

 two-pointed as if composed of two leaves laterally united. In a 

 species of Bromus it is cleft to the base, so that there are three 

 paleae in the whorl. The lodicules are held to represent the 

 corolla. 



Other writers regard the lodicules as the only representatives 

 of the perianth, and consider the paleae to be bracts. 



Diagnosis.— JjesiYBS alternate, with split sheaths, and a 

 ligule at the base of the lamina. Flowers generally arranged in 

 spikelets or locustae, or rarely solitary. Flowers glumaceous ; 

 paleae usually 2 in each flower. Stamens hypogynous, few, 

 usually 3, with capillary filaments, and versatile anthers. Ovary 

 superior, with a solitary ascending ovule ; stigmas feathery or 

 hairy. Fruit a caryopsis. Seed with mealy albumen, with the 

 embryo on one side at the base. 



Distribution and Numbers. — Grasses are universally dis- 

 tributed over the globe. In temperate and cold climates they are 

 herbaceous and of moderate height, while in tropical countries 

 they become shrubby and arborescent, and sometimes grow to the 

 height of 50 or 80 feet. Grasses usually grow together m large 

 masses, and thus form the verdure of great tracts of soil, and 

 hence have been termed social plants. Illustrative Genera : — 

 Panicum, Linn. ; Anthoxanthum, Linn. ; Phleum, Linn. ; 

 Agrostis, Lijui. ; Dactylis, Linn. ; Bromus, Linn. There are 

 over 4,000 species. 



Projjerties and Uses. — Of all the orders in the Vegetable 

 Kingdom this is the most important to man, as it affords the 

 various fruits, commonly known as Cereal Grains, which supply 

 the principal material of his daily bread in most comitries 

 of the world ; besides being eminently serviceable in other 

 respects, by suppl^'ing fodder for cattle, and yielding sugar and 

 other very useful products. It is a remarkable fact that the 

 native comitries of our more important Cereals or Corn-produ- 

 cing plants are altogether miknown. A few of the Grasses yield 

 fragrant volatile oils. Paper has long been made from the 

 bamboo in India, China, and some other parts of the world ; 

 and straw is now largelj^ emploj^ed for a like purpose in this 

 country and elsewhere. Other Grasses have also, within the 

 last few years, been used to a great extent for making paper. 

 Almost all Grasses are wholesome, but one or more species 

 of Bromus have been erroneously reputed to be purgative, 

 and one, Lolium temulentuni, is said to be narcotic and 



